South African Street Food (Bunny Chow): The Aimless Cook

coconut milk

🥗Healthier: light coconut milk

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Light coconut milk reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.

chicken

🥗Healthier: tofu

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Tofu is a plant-based alternative, while chicken thighs are more economical.

curry powder

🥗Healthier: homemade curry blend

💰Cheaper: turmeric + cumin

Homemade blends can be healthier and cheaper.

vegetable oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Olive oil is healthier, while canola is often cheaper.

Chop 1/2 medium yellow onion roughly and set aside.

Toast coriander seeds in a dry skillet until they pop.

Grind toasted coriander seeds in a mortar and pestle.

Add ground cumin, garam masala, and turmeric to the ground coriander to make a curry powder.

Heat an oiled skillet over medium heat and add the onion puree.

Cook the onion puree until the raw taste is gone.

Add 2 cloves minced garlic and 1 thumb minced ginger to the skillet and blend together, cooking for about 1 minute.

Add the curry powder to the onion mixture and mix until aromatic.

Add 1 can of crushed tomatoes and stir.

Add about 1/2 of a rotisserie chicken, shredded into chunks.

Add 2 cups of water and stir to combine, then cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Dice 1 potato into 1 cm pieces and add to the pot to cook with the chicken and tomatoes.

Once the potatoes are tender, add frozen peas and cook for a couple of minutes.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: